Poland Braces for Tense Week After Deadly Krakow Shooting
A deadly attack in Krakow adds strain to a bitter court dispute and a large nationalist march set for Wednesday.
Key points
- Six people were killed and about 15 wounded in a random shooting in Krakow's market square, according to France 24 with AFP.
- The suspected gunman was found dead in hospital, police announced on Monday.
- A Constitutional Tribunal meeting on Tuesday sits at the centre of a dispute between the government and opposition.
- Prime Minister Donald Tusk said no one intends to ban Wednesday's Independence March.
Poland is facing a difficult week after a shooting in Krakow, the country’s second city, left several people dead and many more injured. According to France 24, citing AFP, the attack was the deadliest shooting in Poland in decades. It has shaken many residents, who had long felt protected from such violence.
The attack took place on Saturday in the historic market square. A gunman opened fire at random and killed six people, two of them foreigners. About 15 others were wounded. Police later said the suspect had died in hospital. Authorities believe he may have killed nine people in total, after three bodies were found at a family home about two hours’ drive from Krakow.
Read also: Six dead after gunman attacks Krakow’s Main Market Square
Prosecutors opened an investigation into an act of terrorism on Sunday. Poland’s interior minister has described the suspect as drawn to extreme right-wing thinking. This remark has angered the conservative and nationalist opposition, adding to a sharp political debate at a sensitive moment.
A dispute over the courts
The shooting comes as a long-running conflict over judicial appointments reaches a new stage. A meeting of the Constitutional Tribunal is planned for Tuesday. The court has become a focal point in the struggle between Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government and its critics.
The right-wing opposition accuses the liberal, pro-European government of weakening the constitutional order. The governing coalition says it is trying to correct politically motivated appointments and reforms introduced by the nationalists. It argues that those changes do not meet European democratic standards.
Nationalist protesters have camped outside the court for several weeks. The situation became more tense late last month, when riot police moved in to block access. A judge recently named by the ruling coalition in parliament announced she would assume the role temporarily. This effectively suspended the current judge, who is seen as close to the right and to the nationalist president, Karol Nawrocki.
After the Krakow attack, the nationalist Law and Justice party, which governed from 2015 to 2023, cancelled protests planned for Monday and Tuesday. Those demonstrations could still resume later in the week.
Concern over Wednesday’s march
The greatest concern centres on the annual Independence March on Wednesday. Attendance can climb into the hundreds of thousands, and the crowd is made up largely of right-leaning backers. Participants include Catholic conservatives, as well as white-supremacist fringe groups and antisemitic and pro-Russian far-right elements. President Nawrocki has said he will attend.
Some observers have called the march high-risk. They fear the crowd could leave its agreed route and head towards the Constitutional Tribunal. Prime Minister Tusk rejected rumours that the march could be banned. He wrote on X that the speculation was disinformation. He also urged participants to avoid aggression and to stay away from counter-demonstrations.
Commentators have warned about the wider mood. Writer Boguslaw Chrabota said in the weekly Rzeczpospolita that polarisation was dividing society on an emotional level as well as an institutional one. He drew a parallel with Anders Breivik, responsible for 77 deaths in Norway in 2011.
Political scientist Ewa Marciniak of Warsaw University said the tragedy could soon be used for political gain. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for autumn 2027, and she warned that events like these may be used to deepen conflicts.
Related: Six killed in Krakow shooting, Polish PM calls it terrorism
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Krakow?
A gunman opened fire at random in Krakowu0026#039;s historic market square on Saturday. Six people were killed and about 15 were wounded, according to France 24 with AFP. Police said the suspect later died in hospital.
Why is the Constitutional Tribunal important right now?
The court is at the centre of a dispute between the government of Donald Tusk and its opponents over judicial appointments. A meeting is planned for Tuesday, and nationalist protesters have camped outside it for weeks.
What is the Independence March?
It is an annual event that can attract hundreds of thousands of right-leaning backers. It is due to take place on Wednesday, and President Karol Nawrocki has said he will attend.
Sources
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